Viscosity compensating liquid control device



W. A. BIERMANN VISCOSITY COMPENSATING LIQUID CONTRQL DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. 28, 1.946

llllll i 1 l INVENToR.

Mum/m9. /emm/A/ 13Y\ Oct, 21, 1952 W A, Bllf-RMANN 2,614,577

VISCOSITY COMPENSATING LIQUID CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 28, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 `9/ J s f ,a )ik g5 @653 M s www IW| INVENTOR.

' BY F- ECA w. Afro/PNE?.

Oct, 21', 1952 w. A. BIERMANN 2,614,577

VISCOSITY COMPENSATING LIQUID CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 28, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 g5' .10. ,Ei INVENTOR.

BYE@ w .wiwkuz Patented Oct. 21, 1952 AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vIsoosI'rY ooMPEN'sATING LIQUID CONTROL DEVICE William A. Biermann, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to A P Controls Corpo Wisconsin ration, a corporation of Application February 28, 1940, Serial No. 650,982

` This invention relates to improvements in liquid flow control devices of the type in .which the quantity of liquid iiowing through the device depends on the liquid level maintained in the device, and particularly to devices in which the flow is to be kept substantiallyconstant regardless of temperature variations of the liquid.

In the following description, the terms iiow variation and-viscosity change are considered asapplying to variations and changes resulting from a change in temperature and not a change in composition of the liquid. Hence, when the present device is employed to control the iiow of liquid fuel, it will be understood that density and viscosity changes resulting from temperature variations are compensated and that the present structure is not intended to compensate for variations in composition which may give wide viscosity ranges, the viscosity in a No. 1 fuel oil giving a kinematic viscosity varying from 1.546 to 1.800 centistokes at 100 F.

'It is therefore one object of the present invention to supply a liquid flow control device which compensates for temperature variations in the liquid flowing through the device or in the temperature about the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid flow f control device in which a substantially constant* quantity of liquid is passed through a given orifice regardless of'variations in the viscosity of the liquid. v

v.Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid ow control device in which an elementr of the liquid level control means is itself formed to compensate for flow variations in the liquid of which the flow is to be controlled. y f

A further object of the invention is to provide a liquid flow control device in which variations in thefliquid level maintained therein are automatically produced responsive to changesin the ltemperature of the liquid, thereby varying the static hydraulic head of the liquid on a discharge rorifice as the viscosity of the liquid varies.

And a further object of the invention is to provide a liquid flow control device in which the .buoyancy of a member, floating in the liquid of *which the flow is to be controlled, is varied as the viscosity of the liquid varies with temperature .to vthereby vary the liquid level maintained within the device and secure discharge of a given quantity of liquid from the device regardless 'ofi changes in the temperature of the liquid.

, Objects and advantages other thanthose above set forth will befapparent from the following decQmpanying drawings, in which;-

.scription wheniread in connection with the .3Q-

'5 claims. (c1. 137-389) Fig.- 1 is a vertical longitudinal section on substantially a central plane through a device embodying the present invention;

A Fig. 2 isa vertical` transverse section taken on th'eplane of the line II-Il of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the plane of the line III-III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4g is a top plan view of a iioat of variable vvolume and of the arm connecting such float to other portions of the device;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the iioat and the arm;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the float and the army, f

Fig. 7 on a diametrical plane therethrough;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragment of the cory rugated. portions of the iloat wall;

- Fig. v9 is a diagram illustrating the changes requiredrin vthe float volume to compensate for changes in the liquid within a given range;

Fig. 10 shows curves illustrating the relationships of the variable valuesrequiring consideration in manufacture of the present device.

Referring to the drawings by reference nuvmerals, a casing I0 is substantially divided into a plurality of chambers II and I2 by a partition I3 and is substantially closed by a cover I4. A niprple I1 for connection to a source (not shown) of liquid under pressure is connected with a passage 'I8 in which a strainer I9 is mounted in spaced relationship, the strainer being removably held in the passage by an end closure 20, a plug 2I, and other parts, which are well known in connection with the devices of the present invention.

Liquid iiow into and from the passage I8 is under the control of a valve comprising a valve housing 25 in the chamber II and receiving an inlet valve 26. The stem of the valve 26 extends beyond the valve housing and such extended por- Y tion has secured thereon an externally threaded and iianged sleeve 21 to support a cup 28 forming a seat for a spring 29 acting between the valve housing 25 and the cup and constantly tendingto lift the valve off its seat in the valve housing. A second spring 30 acts between a -flange on the cup 28 and a spring seat member 3| which is held against movement on the valve stem, in one direction by a flanged nut 32 threaded on the sleeve 21. The spring 30 provides an adjustable friction coupling between the sleeve 2l and the nut 32 to retain the nut against accidental movement from its manually set position. f

.l Movement of the valve 26 is controlled by a is an enlarged section of the oat taken tion for controlling the degree of opening of the valve 26, will be described and explainedrin-detail hereinafter,

leverage in response to a condition prevailing at such remote location, pressure is exerted on the pin 55 and is transmitted through the leverage to the valve 43. The action of such leverage is adjustable by changing the relationship of the vlever arm 58 and the screw 59 and by changing the relationship of the lever arm 58 and the screw 59 and by changing the relationship of the arms 51 and 58 by adjustment of the screw 60.

Iftheinlet valve 26 sticks, or if foreign matef rial lodges between the valve and its seat in the Liquid flows from the chamber Il through a valve housing 4| and into anf` outlet passage 4 2 and to the point for consumption of suc1-l"`liquid` chamber Il, is not suiiicient to cause closure of under the control of a valve 43 (see Fig. 3). The

valve 43 is preferably substantially-tubular and is provided in that portion thereof extending beyond the seat therefor` in the valve housing* with a slot, which in coaction with the seat forms an accurately adjustable orifice by which they discharge of the liquid through the outlet valve is controlled. The valve 43 is biased toward. open position by a spring 44 actingbetweenthe casing I9 and a seat 45 for such spring fixed on the upper end of the valve 43 and engagingy with the casin to prevent rotation of the valve.

The degree of openingof the valve 43 is controlled either directly and manually or by means operating responsive to a given condition, such as temperature variations at a point remote from the device. Manual operation of the valveY is obtained by movement of a .knob 41 mounted "n and extending outside of the cover I4. The knob 41 has a stud 48 xed therein and such-'stud holds a plate 49 and a cam strip 50 in predetermined position on the knob. The'plate 49 forms a seat for a spring 5| acting between aflangeon rthe cover I4 and the plate 49 to bias the knob to a predetermined degree of extension into` the device and thereby bringthe stud 48 into a predetermined relation with the valve 43. The curvature of the cam strip 50 is determined and may be varied by an adjusting screw 52v extending through the knob 41 andbearing on a'portion of the cam strip beyond thepoint latfwhich such strip is connected with the hand knob and which portion is free to flex as desired.

The cam 50 actuates a leverage which includes a pin 55 extending through the casing and adapted to be moved in one direction by remotely controlled means such as are well known. The pin 55 rests on one arm 58 of a lever pivotally mounted on the cover I4 and having a second arm 51 Offset from the first arm. The lever arm 56 overlies an arm 58 of resilient material fixed at one end on the cover and engaging a screw 59 adjacent its other end, thescrew 59 being mounted to swivel in the cover and allow flexure of the arm in either direction. The lever arm 51 bears a screw 60 having its end engageable with the free end of the resilient arm 58 to determine the low re position of the outlet valve '43 when the present device is used to control the flow of liquid fuel to a burner. A leaf spring 6I extends-from the free end of the arm 58 over the end of the valve 43 andvis engageable with such valve Vunder certain conditions. I vv When the valve is to be directly or 'manually controlled by way of the knob 41, such knob is turned, as for example when valve 43 is to be closed, to cause the stud `48 to bear on thespring 6I and to bring the valve first to its low fire position and then to shut the valvel off entirely. Wren a remotely actuated device isy employed to control the operation of the above described housing, the increased buoyance of the float 36, as a result of Va rise in the level of liquid in the the valve even'though such liquid rises above the desired ,'maxirnum level indicated. Means are accordingly provided for forcibly closing the inlet valve with a hammer blow action. Such means include an auxiliary float 66 in the chamber l2 and pivotally connected with a latch lever 61 which is pivotally mounted at 68 on the casing adjacent the inlet Vvalve and is formed with a jawlike shape at such pivoted end. The jaw end of the lever 61 is adapted to engage one end of a strier lever 68 which is pivoted in the casing. A spring `69 connects the striker lever S8 with the casing I il and `tends to rotate such lever clockwise about its pivot. The llatch retains the striker lever in raised position until the iioat 66 rises above a predetermined level, whereupon movement oi the float causes the latch lever` 61 to release the end of the striker lever 88 and the spring 69 drives the striker lever against the end of the inlet valvewith a hammer blow;

A re setting lever 13 is pivoted in the casing I0 to provide avhandle, exteriorly of the casing, by which the lever may be moved to engage the striker lever and to raise the same from its contact on the inlet valve and into a, position for reengagement of the striker lever by the latch lever after the level of the oil in the chamber I2 has dropped below a predetermined position.` It will be understood that re-setting of the striker lever in the latch lever is required after each forcible closure of the inlet valve. l

Means arealso provided for securing a constant discharge of liquid from the 'chamber II tothe outlet 42 whereby a constant supply of liquid, such for example as fuel to be delivered to a pilot burner, may be obtained regardless ofposition of the outlet valve 43. Such means includes a passage 16 connected with a well 11 in which is slidably mounted a relatively closettingfplug 18 with a coarse thread 19 cut into its peripheral surface. The thread communicates with a passage connected with the outlet 42 on the discharge side of the valve 43. The position of the plug in the well may be'varied as desired by turning 4an adjusting screw BI engaging with the plug and with a nut 82 suitably mounted in the casing. The plug 19 is in effect a capillary passage between the passages 16 vand 80,' and flow throughv such capillary may be varied by lifting the plug to bring a portion of the thread thereon above the entrance to the passage 80, thus changing the effective length of the capillary passage.

In ythe normal operation of the device, the outlet valve 43 is set either by operation of the hand knob 41 'or by action of the leverage 55--6I, inclusive, by'known meansl responsive to a given condition `rsuch'as, temperature,y to provide for the discharge of a predeterminedvquantity of liquid'from the device. As the liquid is discharged, the liquid level in chamber Il drops sans?? and lowers the iloatI 36 whieh thus'fallow's'the intake Avalve 26 to open. Iff-the valve'26-"fail's to open and close responsive to' the movement of the `oat 36,` the level of liquid in chamber' I'I rises and overtops the partition I3 to now-into the chamber I2. The auxiliary floatif` 66 vlthen rises and the latch lever 61 eventually'relea'ses the striker lever 68 which drops and-'E forcibly closes the valve y26. Thereafterfthe reset lever must beactuated to re-lift thestriker lever V68 which engages with the latch lever 61l if I the liquid level in the chamber I2 has dropped to a predetermined value." Thereupon the device can resume normal operation untilthevalve `26 again fails to respond to movementv of the'i'loat 36.

The iloat 36 is speciallyconstructed tofpro'- vide automatic compensation lfor' variationsv in liquid flow through the device resulting from variations either in thetemperature ofthe Vliquid itself or in the temperature s'urroundingthe device;` The oat is made from' two' half/'shells 68 and 89 with the half shell 88 Vseating'dnth'e half shell 88, the two half shells'being permanently joined, as'by solderl 90, to form a hollow' body of substantially cylindrical shape. The ends of both'of the float halff'shells are formed' with circular corrugations';v as indicated at "SI, which.

extendover an annular area commencing a slight distance' from the edge formed lby the juncture of the float ends andtheside'wall and terminating relatively large-distance fromA the'axis of the oat. The sizey ofthe annular area is dependent both on the charge of the V*float vand the amount of buoyancy compensation required. A

` substantially vcircular*"area 92 about'the center of each floatlendis `left uncorrugated to provide space for attachment ofv the l'oat-v arm3'I and to secure flexure'of the float ends as will appear hereinafter.

The float arm 31 is fixedat'o'ne end on the uncorrugated central porticn92 of that float end which is uppermostV when thewfloat is in use f and the arm extendsVv in` spaced relation over the corrugations 9| and beyond ,the side wall ofthe oat where the arrn isformed withv ears 93 receiving' a pivot 94 fixeddn abracket in the casing I0. The free end of the arm 3'I is bifurcated to form two legs 195-with roundedends v acting on the spring seat 3 I and engageable with the sides of the iange onthe nut 32 whereby `oat movement is transmitted to the valve 26. One -ear 93 is also formed with a 1ug'96 extending at right angles to such earnand engageable with casing bracket for the purpese of preventing damage to the'float corrugati'ons in handling and shipping. v 'l Both ends of -the float v88, 89 are preferably corrugated but it will be understood" that only one float end may be corrugated. Such corrugations are non-uniform to producea varying rate of floatv end flexure. The corrugations severally comprise two curves such as A-B and B-C, alternately taken from centers cn the inside and the outside of the oat end as indicated `by radii HI, and such radii progressively decrease from larger values, adjacent the juncture of the float side wall and the end, to smaller values adjacent the float end area 92. ySuch decrease in radii is however different for the curves taken from centers on the outside and the inside of the float end. The widths of the corrugations measured on a radius of the neat end, as indicated by distance N for example, are preferably equal within manufacturing tolerances. As most clearly shown in Fig. 8, the height of the corrugation high 'points v'above the plane of area 92 and ofi-the depth ofthe corrugation lowpoints below the plane of area 92 decrease'fromsuch area toward the float end and side wall juncture.

`Thusdistance I- equalsdistanc'e P and distance R equals distances but 0, P are less than R.',`S-.1 f

The vfloat is suppliedwith a small quantityof a suitable iiuid, such as acetone, which is readily vaporized inthe- :range of temperatures'within which the device is to operate. The expansible mediumV is' chosen to give: a temperature-vapor :ated scale, shows the change ocurring in the 'liquid level as aresult of a decrease in liquid temperature, and shows thev level` to whichthe liquid mustvbe raised to maintain a constantow atV the higher viscosity vdue tothe temperature decrease. Such figure also shows thedecrease in 'float 'volume (buoyance) required to permit such opening of the'inlet valve as to obtain the necessary higher liquid level. The'original liquid level is indicated bythe solid lline H, and the 'original oat shape and volume are indicatedbyffthe solid line representation of the oat 36fThe dot-dash line I indicates the contraction in'the liquid volume dueto decrease intemperature'and hence the change in liquid level for agi'ven amount of cooling. The dot line J lindicatesv the liquid 'level required to 'maintain the desired value of flowat Ithe lhigher viscosity, and the dot line float 36 shows ythe decreased volume and hence changed shape of the lioat required to compensate for :the Ivarious changes ydue tothe lower temperature Lines M-andINxrespectively indicater the change-in the average position of the oat ends at the original and at the lower temperatures assumedl in the diagram. The ychange in float volume V required to compensate for the higher viscosity is the distance H-:J vplus the distance H--I minus thedistance M`N. f

T wo sets of curves"` are shown in Fig.y l0 utilizing the same temperature and inc coordinate axes and graphically indicating:l the varying values' to be taken into account Ain determining the required volume change and hence amount of flexure required 'of the l'oat ends. The curves arev all taken rassuming the zero .'point oni' the temperature scale as being`40 F. which yields-an 4internal float vaponpressure of 13.04 pounds lper square inch (thepressuregvalues being shown adjacent each temperature value and in parentheses). The inch scale is shown in thousandths of inches movement at various temperatures, and the pressure 'values are shown in pounds per square inch'. absolute. The line R shows the liquid level change due to density variations upon change in temperature, while the additional inlet valve movement required to secure the predetermined ow at the higher density is shown in curve S. Curve T shows the float volume change occurringv at the various temperatures and pressures and hence indicates the movement required of the ends of the neat for each change in temperature. (The curve T is reiiected on the temperature axis to obtain positive values for comparison with the succeeding curves.) The curve U is the liquid level change required to compensatey for thev float .volume change at the various temperatures and is;l ob:- tained by multiplying theV curveT-valuesby a constant (1.33). Curve vW shows the changes required in the liquidlevel aty the various temperatures to maintain the predetermined, values of liquid flow and is obtained bymodifying the curve U by the values ofthe line R and the curve S. Hence the actual ilexure required of the float ends-1 at Various temperatures is represented by thevvalue of curve W plus the corresponding value of line R and minus the corresponding value of curve T. Such curve values-correspond respectively to the distances yH-J, H-I, and M-N.

It willbeseenfrom the above description that the present device provides a float Varyingthe hydraulichead of a-liquid on an orifice respon-.- sive to temperature and hence to viscosity and density changes of the liquid to beV controlled. The buoyancy of the fioat isl varied automatically, thus producing a iioat action'which can be made to compensate exactly for changes in the liquid viscosity. The fioat controlsthe degree offopening of an intake valve which is forcibly closed, if `the float is'unable to close the valve, by meansV responsive to the rise of ther liquid level abovea-predeterminedvalue. A discharge orifice isivariedby a condition to-be controlled, either adjacent the; device or remotely thereto, and which requires the passage of the same quantityiofliquid for a givenconditionand regardless of the temperature ofthe liquid. Variations" in'V liquid temperature, Which would otherwiseavary the'qilantity of liquid passing through a givensetting ofthe orifice ina given period of time, aretherefore compensated by changes in thestatic. hydraulicvhead on the valve, so that the quantity ofliquid passed by the orifice at any given setting remains constant.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention'has been illustrated and described it will-be apparent to those skilled inV the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a `fuel control ldevice having an inlet valve actuated by -a float vto -maintain` a desired oil level in a casing having anl outlet adapted for connection to-a burner, the float comprising a generallyvcylindrical hollow body, the ends of which comprise V.flexible diaphragms structurally formed to definel a predetermined variablerate of fiexure in response to pressure variations within the float, a vaporizable vcharge in said floatfor varying at a predeterminedrate the pressure finzthe float in response to temperature changes, the g rate of flexure -of-l said diaphragms beingcorrelated with the rate of variation ,in the viscosity, of the oil and withthe rate of vvariation in the vapor pressureofsaid charge in response to changes .in temperature respectively, so that the resulting changes in the displacement of the oat will vary .the level of the oil within the casingto provide a substantially constant rate of oil flow from the casing outlet regardless of variations in the viscosity of the oil due to temperature change.

2; 'Ihe apparatus described inclaim 1 wherein the diaphragms' are structurally formed with plural corrugations having different degrees of resistancetoy flexure and providing for the respective diaphragms the overall predetermined variable rate ofA flexure in response to lpressure variations within the float.

3. The apparatus described in claim 1 wherein the diaphragms. are structurally formed to provide plural, concentric areas having diiierentdegrees, of resistance-to flexure and providing for the respectivey diaphragms the overall vpre-A determined variable rate of flexure in response to pressure variations within the iioat.V

4.V The apparatusidescribed in claiml 1 wherein the: diaphragms are structurally formed with p1ura1, concentric corrugations the crestsv of which are of different heights and curvatures to providei thereindiiierent degrees of resistance to flexure, said corrugations together providing the predetermined variable rate-of flexure in the respective diaphragms in response topressure variations within the ;oat. Y

5. The structure described in-claimY 4 wherein the radii of curvature of the crests of the corrugations decreasevfrom theedge of the-,diaphragms toward the center thereof and wherein the height of said crests decreases .from the centertowardsthe edgeof the diaphragrns.

WILLIAM A. BIERMANN.

REFERENCES'- CITED The following references are of recordinthe iileYof-'this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'EII'I'Sv Number Name n Datey 1,664,840 Wermine- Apr. 3, 1928 1,712,460 Purdy May7, 1929 1,847,053 Browne Feb. v23,1932 1,869,282 Schwartzy July 26, 1932 2,247,930 Turner July V1, .1941 2,289,218 Simpson July 7, 1942 2,336,730 Hayter Dec, 14, 1943 2,338,319 DeLancey Jan. 4, 1944 2,355,870 Johnson Aug. 15, 1944 2,427,059 Landon Sept. 9, 1947 

